Lamborghini Murcielago replacement (2010): the spy photos

How do you replace a car as madcap as the Lamborghini Murcielago? Answer: with an equally bonkers successor. Scooped testing near the Nurburgring, this early mule for the next-generation supercar wears numberplates belonging to Quattro GmbH. That’s the official tuning arm of Audi (Lambo’s owner), so after the brilliant R8 it appears Quattro GmbH will play a role in Sant'Agata's new range-topping supercar.

Tell me all you know about the next-gen Lamborghini Murcielago

For a start that name will change, possibly to Jota but that’s not confirmed. We know the all-new car will ditch the LP640’s steel chassis in favour of a carbonfibre tub with front and rear steel subframes.

That carbonfibre construction should help cut weight, while the new car will grow in size. Check out the front and rear wheels, which are barely able to squeeze under the Murcielago’s existing bodywork – today’s car wears paltry 18-inch rear rims.

The bigger rubber, combined with a sophisticated electronics system (replacing the LP640’s rudimentary set-up) will help keep the 700bhp V12 in check. Expect a 6.0-litre displacement for the all-new powerplant.

When will we see the new Lambo?

A debut is in the diary for the Geneva show in March 2010, we hear. A Roadster variant could appear as early as autumn the same year, perhaps at the Paris salon 2010. Hopefully it’ll have a better roof arrangement than on today’s car.

Any news on the current Murcielago’s run-out special?

The SV, or Superveloce is still on schedule, with a launch expected early in 2009, either at Detroit or Geneva. But 2009 will also see Lamborghini stick to its promise of unveiling one new model at every major show – we’ll see the LP560-4 Spyder next week at LA, and various special editions, including a Superleggera version, should also arrive in the next 12 months.